The questionnaire is fairly long but it’s also very thorough and informative. It considers current age, weight, physical activity, diet and feeding practices, health care, behavioral issues, social interaction, possible disease and health conditions, and safety. It also provides detailed information about your answers and some interesting cat data such as the fact that 35 to 45 percent of cats are obese.

I am proud to sat that my cat Ed is 13.1 years younger than the average cat age for his breed (mixed). Considering that the average cat lives 15 to 17 years, he should be around another nine years or so, especially if I start brushing his teeth.

Kelly is a pet writer. She lives in the Boston area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

Many get stolen around Halloween so it’s best to keep your cat, black or white, inside. By keeping them indoors, you also protect them against potentially unruly mobs of trick-or-treaters and Halloween decorations that are easy to get caught in.

Keep your cat confined and away from the door as it is easy for an over-stimulated, confused cat to rush outside when you’re handing out candy.

Indoors, cats should also be kept away from decorations. Things like tinsel can be deadly if ingested. Keep all candy securely safe in a cupboard, as chocolate and many of the ingredients in candy like candy corn and licorice are dangerous to your cat.

Because Halloween is loud and chaotic and sometimes obnoxious, consider using a flower essence like Rescue Remedy to help calm your cat. And be sure to take time to check on your cat and assure him it’s only one day and night of nightmarish revelry.

Kelly is a pet writer. She lives in the Boston area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

A kitten needs a greater quantity because he has a tiny stomach and a fast metabolism that burns the fuel up quickly, leaving him ready for more food more often.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

One in 400 cats has Diabetes and they can live fairly normal lives for many years. But their owners must expect some changes.

Be prepared to: give insulin injections (your vet can show you how this is done) or oral hyperglycemics; modify your cat’s diet (a high-fiber diet is recommended); and monitor their health by checking for excessive urination or water intake, noting your cat’s weight and behavior, and watching for urinary tract infections.

Above all, establish a good relationship with your vet so they can help you identify these and other hypoglycemic indicators. And keep a positive attitude – Diabetes is something that can be managed with a little extra care.

Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

The areas to clip short are in the armpits, inside the back legs and chest area, or anywhere you have noticed matting on your cat in the past.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

They are chemical antioxidants that keep the fatty contents of pet food from turning rancid. These chemicals have been linked to birth defects and liver and kidney damage. If a cat ingests them at every single meal it has to take a toll.

The value of BHA and BHT to pet food makers, who still routinely use them, is that once they are doused on kibble, the stuff can stay “fresh” for endless amounts of time.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

The ability to locate the direction of a sound is partly determined by the distance between the ears – so it is interesting to note that a great deal of a cat’s brain must be devoted to hearing since she can equal a dog’s auditory performance but her had is much smaller, and therefore has less distance between her ears. A cat’s hearing can even out-perform larger animals like horses.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

The next thing to tackle is his teeth. Powered pet toothbrushes and special pet toothpaste can really help but make sure to wait at least a half-hour after eating before brushing your cat’s teeth. Or try adding something like Dental Fresh with chlorophyll to your cat’s water. If his breath continues to be bad after treating the tartar and plaque, see your vet – it could indicate diabetes, kidney or liver disease.

Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

So how does your feline become a therapy cat? Therapy cats should work well with people, have a calm demeanor and they should be at least a year old. Short-haired cats were used most often in the past but long-hairs, such as Persians, are popular now, too. Stroking or grooming a cat can bring back memories for patients, relieve loneliness and act as a calming presence.

Your cat can get certified through programs such as Pets Helping People, where cats learn to be comfortable in different surroundings. They can also earn their Feline Good Citizen certificate.

Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

First, wash with soap and water. Then apply a bit of hydrogen peroxide with a cotton ball until it stops bleeding. Apply an ointment such as Neosporin after that. Bandage the area with a bandaid or gauze secured with an ace bandage. At any sign of infection or flu-like symptoms, see your doctor.

If your cat has been scratched by another cat, clean it, apply hydrogen peroxide and press firmly until the bleeding stops. The danger for them is infection so watch it carefully as it heals.

Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.